If I'm not mistaken, the New York Film Critics Circle did manage to be the first film critics' organization to announce its awards for this year. They were not last year.
They've named Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow's movie about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, the "Best Picture" of 2012. Bigelow, who also won the best director Oscar for The Hurt Locker, won the Circle's "Best Director" prize for Zero Dark Thirty. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln was also a big winner, snagging three prizes, including acting honors for Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field.
Founded in 1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is, according to their website, “an organization of film reviewers from New York-based publications that exists to honor excellence in U.S. and world cinema.” Members are critics from daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, magazines, and online general-interest publications (that meet certain qualifications). Every year in December, Circle members meet in New York to vote on awards for the year's films.
Here's the complete list of the 2012 winners:
Best Picture - Zero Dark Thirty
Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty
Best Screenplay - Tony Kushner for Lincoln
Best Actress - Rachel Weisz for The Deep Blue Sea
Best Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln
Best Supporting Actress - Sally Field for Lincoln
Best Supporting Actor - Matthew McConaughey for 2 films: Bernie, Magic Mike
Best Cinematographer - Greig Fraser for Zero Dark Thirty
Best Animated Film – Frankenweenie
Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary) - The Central Park Five
Best Foreign Film – Amour
Best First Film - David France for How to Survive a Plague
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
"Life of Pi" Director Ang Lee to Receive Harold Lloyd Award
(Ang Lee photo courtesy of Business Wire)
“Life of Pi” Director Ang Lee to Receive Harold Lloyd Award at International 3D Society Creative Arts Awards, February 6, 2013
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--“Life of Pi” director, Ang Lee, has been named the 2013 recipient of the Harold Lloyd Award, it was announced today by the International 3D Society in Hollywood. The two-time Academy Award Winning Director will receive the Society’s highest filmmaker award at a black-tie ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel February 6th.
“Ang Lee has embodied Harold Lloyd’s vision and passion for capturing the hearts and the imaginations of movie fans around the world,” said Suzanne Lloyd, Lloyd’s granddaughter and Chairman of Harold Lloyd Entertainment. “With ‘Life of Pi,’ he has produced an exquisite, enlightened and exciting storytelling achievement that ranks as one of the finest artistic works captured in 3D.”
The Award was established by the 3D Society and the Lloyd Family to annually celebrate filmmakers for groundbreaking artistic and technical achievement in 3D.
“Harold Lloyd was a life-long advocate for 3D movies, but the technology available to him could never bring this dream to life. In joining our previous honorees, James Cameron and Martin Scorsese, Mr. Lee has realized that dream, and has produced an extraordinary work of art with ‘Life of Pi,’” said Jim Chabin, President of the Society.
“Life of Pi” is Ang Lee’s first 3D feature, and is based on the novel by Yann Martel. The critically acclaimed film has been called a “spectacular work of wonder” by TIME Magazine. The Associated Press praised the movie as “the most artful use of digital 3D technology yet seen.”
Mr. Lee’s vision, coupled with stunning 3D visuals, has turned a novel long thought unfilmable into a thrillingly audacious mix of grand storytelling and powerful and provocative themes. He has created a singular vision of Martel’s unforgettable tale of courage, perseverance, inspiration and hope. The film takes us through a young man’s incredible adventure – at turns thrilling and spiritual, harrowing and triumphant, humorous and inspirational.
The Society’s Gold Lumiere™ statuette will be presented for distinguished achievement in fifteen categories, including film and television, at its annual Creative Arts Awards. The Society’s Annual black-tie Awards Dinner will be held at the Beverly Hills Hotel Crystal Ballroom. Lloyd’s great, great granddaughter and actress, Jackie Lloyd, will assist presenters onstage at this year’s honors.
Along with legends Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and others, Lloyd was one of the founders of Hollywood’s original comedic and creative community. Lloyd wrote, acted in, directed and produced more than 200 films. In a 1923 Los Angeles Times interview, Lloyd predicted that “the person who produces perfect stereo motion-pictures will have accomplished the greatest achievement since the first motion-picture.” He founded the Hollywood 3D Society in 1950 with Edgar Bergen and actor Sterling Holloway (the voice of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh). He served as its first President.
In addition to his films, the Harold Lloyd Archive contains more than 250,000 stereoscopic 3D photographs of Hollywood celebrities, events, people and places Lloyd encountered while pursuing his passion for 3D photography.
Ang Lee is one of the world’s most revered and honored film directors. He has won two Academy Awards: in 2006, for his direction of “Brokeback Mountain,” and the 2001 Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” His most recent film, “Taking Woodstock,” was nominated for a Golden Palm Award at Cannes Film Festival.
Mr. Lee’s other films include “Lust, Caution,” “The Wedding Banquet,” “Sense and Sensibility,” “The Ice Storm,” “The Hulk,” “Eat Drink Man Woman” and “Ride with the Devil.”
Mr. Lee moved to the United States in 1978. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre from the University of Illinois, he went to New York University to complete a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in film production. His short film “Fine Line” won Best Director and Best Film awards at the annual NYU Film Festival.
About the International 3D Society & 3D@Home Consortium
The International 3D Society & 3D@Home Consortium advances 3D content, products and adoption through recognition, networking, communication for professionals and consumers. With over 60 companies and 500 professional members, the organization honors the year’s best during its 3D Technology and 3D Creative Awards programs; hosts worldwide meetings, workshops and demonstrations; and manages many online resources to assist consumers and professionals to further understand and integrate 3D into their lives. Visit www.International3DSociety.com, www.3DatHome.org, and 3DUniversity.net to explore the full range of 3D information available.
"Argo" Crosses $100 Million Mark at Domestic Box Office
Warner Bros. Pictures’ Acclaimed Hit “Argo” Strikes Box Office Gold, Surpassing $100 Million
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ben Affleck’s widely acclaimed dramatic thriller “Argo” has crossed the $100 million mark at the domestic box office, it was announced today by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution. One of the best reviewed films of the year, “Argo” has earned an estimated $101 million, domestically, to date.
In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “‘Argo’ is one of those rare cinematic achievements that has been equally and enthusiastically embraced by both critics and audiences. Its success at the box office, combined with categorical raves from critics everywhere, is a testament to the talents behind the film, beginning with its remarkable director and star, Ben Affleck. We congratulate him and everyone involved in ‘Argo’ on this milestone.”
“Argo” has been applauded by moviegoers and hailed nationwide by critics, a number of whom have called it one of the best films of the year, among many other accolades. At the box office, “Argo” accomplished the extremely rare feat of climbing to number one in its third weekend in release. Overall, it remained solidly in the top ten for seven weeks, including four weeks in the top three.
Word of mouth has been unabated, which will carry the film through the holiday season, while the buzz surrounding “Argo” has continued to build throughout the fall, heading into awards season. In October, the cast won the Hollywood Film Award for Ensemble of the Year.
“Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans—spearheaded by the CIA’s heroic exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez—which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis. The drama focuses on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played, information that was not declassified until many years after the event.
On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top “exfil” guy, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.
Academy Award® winner Ben Affleck (“The Town,” “Good Will Hunting”) directed and stars in “Argo,” produced by Oscar® nominee Grant Heslov (“Good Night, and Good Luck.”), Affleck, and Oscar® winner George Clooney (“Syriana”). The screenplay is by Chris Terrio, based on a selection from The Master of Disguise by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired Magazine article “The Great Escape,” by Joshuah Bearman. David Klawans, Nina Wolarsky, Chris Brigham, Chay Carter, Graham King and Tim Headington served as executive producers, with Amy Herman co-producing.
“Argo” also stars Bryan Cranston, Oscar® winner Alan Arkin (“Little Miss Sunshine”), and John Goodman. The main cast also includes Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler and Chris Messina.
The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar®-nominated director of photography Rodrigo Prieto (“Brokeback Mountain”), production designer Sharon Seymour (“The Town”); Oscar®-nominated editor William Goldenberg (“Seabiscuit,” “The Insider”); and Oscar®-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West (“The Social Network,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”). The music is composed by four-time Oscar® nominee Alexandre Desplat (“The King’s Speech,” “The Queen”).
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with GK Films, a Smokehouse Pictures production, “Argo.” The film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. “Argo” has been rated R for language and some violent images.
www.argothemovie.com
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ben Affleck’s widely acclaimed dramatic thriller “Argo” has crossed the $100 million mark at the domestic box office, it was announced today by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution. One of the best reviewed films of the year, “Argo” has earned an estimated $101 million, domestically, to date.
In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “‘Argo’ is one of those rare cinematic achievements that has been equally and enthusiastically embraced by both critics and audiences. Its success at the box office, combined with categorical raves from critics everywhere, is a testament to the talents behind the film, beginning with its remarkable director and star, Ben Affleck. We congratulate him and everyone involved in ‘Argo’ on this milestone.”
“Argo” has been applauded by moviegoers and hailed nationwide by critics, a number of whom have called it one of the best films of the year, among many other accolades. At the box office, “Argo” accomplished the extremely rare feat of climbing to number one in its third weekend in release. Overall, it remained solidly in the top ten for seven weeks, including four weeks in the top three.
Word of mouth has been unabated, which will carry the film through the holiday season, while the buzz surrounding “Argo” has continued to build throughout the fall, heading into awards season. In October, the cast won the Hollywood Film Award for Ensemble of the Year.
“Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans—spearheaded by the CIA’s heroic exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez—which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis. The drama focuses on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played, information that was not declassified until many years after the event.
On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top “exfil” guy, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.
Academy Award® winner Ben Affleck (“The Town,” “Good Will Hunting”) directed and stars in “Argo,” produced by Oscar® nominee Grant Heslov (“Good Night, and Good Luck.”), Affleck, and Oscar® winner George Clooney (“Syriana”). The screenplay is by Chris Terrio, based on a selection from The Master of Disguise by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired Magazine article “The Great Escape,” by Joshuah Bearman. David Klawans, Nina Wolarsky, Chris Brigham, Chay Carter, Graham King and Tim Headington served as executive producers, with Amy Herman co-producing.
“Argo” also stars Bryan Cranston, Oscar® winner Alan Arkin (“Little Miss Sunshine”), and John Goodman. The main cast also includes Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler and Chris Messina.
The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar®-nominated director of photography Rodrigo Prieto (“Brokeback Mountain”), production designer Sharon Seymour (“The Town”); Oscar®-nominated editor William Goldenberg (“Seabiscuit,” “The Insider”); and Oscar®-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West (“The Social Network,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”). The music is composed by four-time Oscar® nominee Alexandre Desplat (“The King’s Speech,” “The Queen”).
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with GK Films, a Smokehouse Pictures production, “Argo.” The film is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. “Argo” has been rated R for language and some violent images.
www.argothemovie.com
Monday, December 3, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
"Superman vs. The Elite" a Thoughtful Superman Flick
Superman vs. The Elite (2012) – straight-to-video
Running minutes: 74 minutes (1 hour, 14 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for violent action and some language
DIRECTOR: Michael Chang
WRITER: Joe Kelly
EDITOR: Christopher D. Lozinski
COMPOSER: Robert J. Kral
ANIMATION STUDIO: Telecom Animation Film Co., Ltd.
ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION
Starring: (voices) George Newbern, Pauley Perrette, Robin Atkin Downes, Dee Bradley Baker, Ogie Banks, Catero Colbert, Grey DeLisle, Melissa Disney, Henry Simmons, Andrew Kishino, and Fred Tatasciore
Superman vs. The Elite is a 2012 direct-to-video superhero animated film from Warner Bros. Animation. Starring DC Comics’ most famous superhero, Superman, this is also the 14th feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line. Once again, Bruce W. Timm is an executive producer on the film,.
Superman vs. The Elite is loosely based on the comic book story, “What’s So Funny about Truth, Justice, & the American Way,” which was published in Action Comics #775 (March 2001 cover date). That comic book was written by Joe Kelly, who also wrote the screenplay adaptation for this movie. Superman vs. The Elite finds Superman taking on a new team of ruthless superheroes who hold his idealism in contempt and who outshine him in public opinion.
As the film begins, the world watches as the neighboring countries, Eastern Bloc nation Bialya and Pokolistan, wage war against one another. Superman (George Newbern) battles the supervillain, Atomic Skull (Dee Bradley Baker), who has gone on another murderous rampage in Metropolis. It seems as if the bad guys in the world are literally getting away with murder.
Enter a powerful new group of super-crusaders, calling itself “The Elite.” Manchester Black (Robin Atkin Downes), Coldcast (Catero Colbert), Menagerie (Melissa Disney), and The Hat (Andrew Kishino) are powerful and are willing to answer violence with violence. They are not only willing to kill on a massive scale to stop villainy, but they are also willing to make pre-emptive strikes to stop the bad guys. As The Elite’s methods become increasingly popular with the public, Superman, who refuses to kill as a matter of principle, and his methods are called into question.
Although I would not call Superman vs. The Elite one of the elite films in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series, the film’s story does raise some interesting ideas and presents intriguing dilemmas. Superman’s approach to fighting crime and solving the world’s problems are idealistic, and, of course, that is perfect in the make-believe world of Superman storytelling media.
The Elite’s approach is also problematic, mainly because of their poor judgment, lack of discretion, and the simple fact that practically everything they do is overkill. Still, it is easy to see why people are attracted to answering extreme violence with excessive violence – an eye for an eye, indeed. The Elite’s methods would also find approval in our real world. This debate between Superman’s way of dealing with the troubles of the world and The Elite’s use of ultra-violence makes Superman vs. The Elite a little more thoughtful than the average direct-to-DVD animated movie.
The big action set pieces, mostly the fights between Superman and The Elite, are good, although the animation is a bit wonky and seems a bit too cartoony in style to fit the dark subject matter of this film. Still, Superman vs. The Elite is worth seeing.
7 of 10
B+
Friday, September 21, 2012
Producers Guild Reveals 2013 Award Nominees in Documentary Feature Category
Film fans know the Producers Guild of America for its annual PGA Awards. The PGA is also the non-profit trade group that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media.
Friday, (November 30, 2012), the Producers Guild of America announced the Documentary Motion Picture nominees that will advance in the voting process for the 24th Annual Producers Guild Awards.
The nominated films, listed below in alphabetical order, are:
A People Uncounted
The Gatekeepers
The Island President
The Other Dream Team
Searching for Sugar Man
The nominations for all other 2013 Producers Guild Award categories will be announced on January 3, 2013, along with the individual producers.
Friday, (November 30, 2012), the Producers Guild of America announced the Documentary Motion Picture nominees that will advance in the voting process for the 24th Annual Producers Guild Awards.
The nominated films, listed below in alphabetical order, are:
A People Uncounted
The Gatekeepers
The Island President
The Other Dream Team
Searching for Sugar Man
The nominations for all other 2013 Producers Guild Award categories will be announced on January 3, 2013, along with the individual producers.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Review: "Match Point" Goes for the Fatal Attraction (Happy B'day, Woody Allen)
Match Point (2005)
Running time: 124 minutes (2 hours, 4 minutes)
MPAA – R for some sexuality
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Woody Allen
PRODUCERS: Letty Aronson, Lucy Darwin, and Gareth Wiley
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Remi Adefarasin
EDITOR: Alisa Lepselter
Academy Award nominee
DRAMA with elements of romance and thriller
Starring: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer, Matthew Goode, Brian Cox, Penelope Wilton, and Colin Salmon
The subject of this review is Match Point, a 2005 dramatic thriller from director Woody Allen. The film was originally to be set in the Hamptons, but the setting was changed to London because the financing for the film came from sources based in the United Kingdom. Match Point follows a former tennis pro and his volatile relationship with a femme fatale.
Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), a tennis pro who recently left the professional ranks, takes a job as a tennis instructor at a high society social club near London. There, he meets and strikes up a friendship with Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), the only son of a wealthy family from the British upper crust. Chris also meets Tom’s fiancé, Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), this movie’s femme fatale (so to speak) and an American actress struggling with her career in London. Chris also attracts the eye of Tom’s sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), who is immediately attracted to Chris. Chloe practically throws herself at Chris, but it has benefits. Tom and Chloe’s father, Alec Hewett (Brian Cox), a very wealthy and highly connected businessman, takes an immediate liking to Chris. Before long, Alec’s connections have landed Chris a cushy business job, and Chris social climbs his way to improved social status and finances, especially for a man who grew up a poor Irish boy. Chris marries Chloe. However, Chris is infatuated with Nola, and they have an affair that lasts even after Tom’s dumps her, and Nola is a very demanding woman. She wants Chris to leave Chloe for her, and Chris begins to wonder if violence is the only way out of his predicament.
Woody Allen earned his fourteenth Oscar nomination for screenwriting (more than anyone else and all of them “Written Directly for the Screen”) with his only film shot entirely in Great Britain, Match Point. Match Point, also his longest film, is almost the typical Woody Allen film except that this is a straight drama with no comedic elements (one of the few times he’s done that and the first time since the late 1980’s). As per usual, there is a philandering husband and a mistress, but the mistress Nola’s rage has an edge to it that a comic narrative would temper. There are class differences among the characters, except the disparity here between the pair of Chris and Nola and the Hewett’s is a chasm. There is an unhappy marriage, except in this film the husband is totally to blame and an idiot. Chloe is great to Chris, and she and her family throw wealth and privilege at him that could have easily gone to someone who was already in Chloe’s social set. Finally, Allen, as always, discusses philosophy in his movie, but in the case of Match Point’s drama, the philosophy isn’t meandering. Chris’ belief that luck is more important than hard work, as important as he believe hard work indeed is, defines this film. There’s no mock comic philosophizing here as there sometimes is in an Allen movie.
The acting is good, but not great. I’ve come to accept that Scarlett Johansson is beautiful (though not “classically” beautiful), and that while she looks good on the screen, she doesn’t have major acting chops. Her best acting is done with her face and not with her voice, in particularly delivering dialogue. She also has zero chemistry with Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in this flick, and their passion has a hollow ring – an almost fatal flaw in the film. Match Point, however, is predicated on some of Woody Allen’s strengths: intimate character drama and constructive dialogue that moves the narrative and reveals character and motivation.
For Woody Allen fans, this is a rare treat – a Woody drama. For everyone else, Match Point is Fatal Attraction with a bit more brains and less glossy exploitation, but it’s still full of tawdry fun.
7 of 10
A-
NOTES:
2006 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Writing, Original Screenplay” (Woody Allen)
2006 Golden Globes, USA: 4 nominations: “Best Motion Picture – Drama,” “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Woody Allen), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Scarlett Johansson), “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Woody Allen)
Thursday, May 4, 2006
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